In art and
iconography, a
motif is an element of an
image. A motif may be repeated in a
pattern or design, often many times, or may just occur once in a work. A motif may be an element in the iconography of a particular subject or type of subject that is seen in other works, or may form the main subject, as the
Master of Animals motif in ancient art typically does. The related motif of
confronted animals is often seen alone, but may also be repeated, for example in
Byzantine silk and other ancient textiles.